LATEST LAUNCH: WE DRIVE MERC'S V6 VIANO

+ Click to Enlarge NOT AS INCONGRUOUS AS IT LOOKS: Two Viano MPVs pose on the Zwartkop circuit outside the Mercedes-Benz Dynamic Driving headquarters.

September 21, 2007
By Dave Abrahams

The tyres squealed in protest and the electronic stability programme kicked in as the Mercedes went into the nasty, off-camber left-hander around the pits at Zwartkop racetrack considerably too hot.

I could feel the wheels braking and releasing individually as the system worked overtime to keep the car on track, with just a hint of understeer drifting us out on to the rumble strip right at the exit point.

Was I driving Stuttgart's latest performance sedan, or perhaps a sporty little CLK Kompressor? Nope: we were caning it round Zwartkop at the SA launch of the three-litre, seven-seater, Viano MPV.

The addition of a 2987cc, V6 turbodiesel has brought an entirely new dimension to the Viano range. It kicks out a claimed 150kW at 3800rpm with a seriously muscular 440Nm available from 1800 to 2400rpm, enough to take this 2.2-ton bus to a top speed of more than 200km/h.

The 2.2-litre model, launched in June 2006, continues alongside the V6 in slightly less luxurious Trend trim, suffers noticeably from turbo lag, especially at Gauteng altitude, and sometimes seems a little reluctant off a standing start, although once the turbo has spooled up its acceleration is adequate if uninspiring.

The V6, however, demonstrates in impressive measure the effortless low and mid-range response that makes common-rail diesels surprisingly fun to drive; it picks up from just off idle and willingly revs past the power peak at 3800rpm, not so much accelerating as gathering momentum with slightly unnerving rapidity, given the tight and tricky layout of the Zwartkop circuit.

It drives the rear wheels through a conventional five-speed semi-automatic transmission; the shift points have been set to take advantage of the engine's flat torque curve and you have to get silly with the three-litre to provoke it into kicking down at the wrong moment.

The adaptive electronic stability programme fitted as standard on the V6 (it's an option on the 2.2) allows a little understeer but steps in immediately it detects the slightest tendency for the rear wheels to overtake the front.

It firmly backs off the power and brakes the outside wheels so that all four are once again travelling in the same direction – which is not a bad thing on a five-metre-long vehicle with three rows of seats and unexpectedly authoritative performance.

The only time this became a nuisance was on the fast right-hand sweep at the end of the back straight, where any rear-wheel drive vehicle settles down with its tail slightly hung out.

On the Viano this inevitably resulted in a sudden loss of power right when you needed it most, at the bottom of the steep climb to the highest section of the circuit.

Which didn't do much for lap times but kept even the most ham-footed among us on blacktop at all times.

Injecting some sanity into proceedings

We kept having to remind ourselves this was not a performance vehicle but a full-size MPV, so much so that after a dozen laps or so a loud smell of fried brake-pad permeated the cabin and the Mercedes-Benz Dynamic Driving instructor who was there to inject some sanity into proceedings "suggested" we back off and give the brakes time to cool.

So we relaxed and stretched out in Mercedes-Benz' luxurious evocation of "first class travel". The V6 Viano is only available in the range-topping Ambiente spec, with full leather upholstery, burr walnut fascia trim, self-levelling suspension, electrically operated side sliding doors and thorax crash bags for all three rows of seats.

The 2.2 Trend has a mix of fabric and "man-made leather" upholstery, people-powered side doors, steel suspension and brushed aluminium fascia trim.

Prices

2.2 Trend – R395 000

3.0 V6 Ambiente – R499 000

Prices include a six-year or 120 000km maintenance plan; service intervals are decided by the Assyst active service system.

Perhaps the only mistake Mercedes-Benz has made with the Viano has been to market the Vito commercial version first, creating the perception that this is primarily a commercial vehicle. Don't think of it as a van with seats; rather see it as a surprisingly sporty hatchback that seats seven.

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